2 Corinthians 8:1-18

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,